Norway mourns King Harald V as thousands pay tribute
Translated from Greek and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
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- Thousands of Norwegians gathered in Oslo to mourn the death of King Harald V, who passed away at age 89.
- Flags across Norway are flying at half-mast, and the public has been paying tribute to the late monarch.
- Crown Prince Haakon has ascended the throne as King Haakon VIII and will take his oath to the constitution on Tuesday.
Norway is united in grief following the death of King Harald V, Europe's longest-reigning monarch, who passed away Friday at the age of 89. Thousands of citizens braved heavy rain in Oslo on Saturday to pay their respects, lining the streets as a funeral procession moved from the University Hospital to the Royal Palace, where the King's coffin was placed in the chapel.
An era has ended. A new one begins. The King is dead. Long live the King.
Nationwide, flags are flying at half-mast, and portraits of the King adorn public spaces, bus stops, and offices, reflecting the deep sense of national mourning. The public will have an opportunity to pay their respects before the King's coffin at the chapel, though the date for this has not yet been announced. The country is also preparing for the funeral, which is expected to take place at the royal mausoleum at Akershus Fortress in Oslo.
The passing of King Harald marks the end of an era, with attention now turning to the succession. Crown Prince Haakon, his only son, immediately assumed the throne as King Haakon VIII following his father's death. He is scheduled to address the nation via television on Saturday and will take his constitutional oath before the parliament on Tuesday, formally pledging to uphold Norway's laws and constitution. The new King has chosen "Alt for Norge" (All for Norway) as his motto.
It meant a lot to us immigrants... We felt truly integrated. So, thanks to him, I feel so Norwegian.
King Harald, who reigned for 35 years, was remembered by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre as a unifying figure known for his warmth, humor, and unwavering commitment to his people. His reign was characterized by inclusivity, a sentiment echoed by many, including immigrants who felt genuinely integrated into Norwegian society thanks to his approach. A notable speech in 2016, where he affirmed that "Norwegians are girls who love girls, boys who love boys, and girls and boys who love each other," resonated deeply and exemplified his inclusive spirit.
Norwegians are girls who love girls, boys who love boys, and girls and boys who love each other.
About this summary
Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.
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